All Chapters of PROTECTED BY THE DEVIL: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

ROCCODiana sat on one of the couches in my living room, those curious eyes of hers scanning every corner. I handed her a cup of coffee—hot, strong—and dropped into the armchair next to her, my gaze locked on her face.“How the hell did you end up here?” I asked, no point in dancing around it.“It’s a long story, Rocco.” She wrapped both hands around the mug, soaking up the warmth. “I’m here thanks to a user named Deadpool123.”I frowned, trying to place it. That stupid-ass name rang a bell. Then it clicked—Luca—and a bitter smile tugged at my mouth.“You grabbed my phone on the terrace, didn’t you?” I shook my head, connecting the dots. “And he probably had your face set up to unlock it. That kid…”Diana laughed, her voice soft as it echoed through the room.“I didn’t know you had a son, Rocco. He’s so cute.”I muttered, more to myself than to her: “Luca’s not my son. He’s my cousin.”She looked even more amused now, a mischievous glint in her eyes.“Oh, but the way he talks about yo

DIANAI kept washing the dishes, turning over everything he’d shared. It was hard to imagine how someone so deep in the mafia could still carry so much humanity the way Rocco did. The loyalty and honor he showed, in the middle of this dirty world of violence and greed, only made me like him more. But at the same time, his hands were stained with blood, just like every other man in my family.My family had always taught me that life in the mafia was a constant war, a battle for survival where weakness wasn’t tolerated. And here was Rocco, strong and ruthless, but also capable of a kind of tenderness I’d never experienced from a man. From the day he walked into my life, Rocco had been my safe harbor: protecting me, soothing me through my worst moments, accepting me exactly as I was, not as someone he wanted me to be.There was a long silence, and then I finished washing the last plate, flicking the water droplets off into the sink. When I turned around, there he was, leaning against the

ROCCODiana pressed her hand to her mouth, horror written all over her face, but she didn’t say anything. Just let me keep going.“She left me a letter.” My voice cracked, but I pushed through. “Apologizing for not being able to open up to me about any of it. About what the fuck was happening to her.” I stopped, my jaw tight. “It destroyed me, you know that? Destroyed everything inside me.”I could barely look at her. The words came out like razor blades, cutting deep, leaving the bitter taste of every goddamn memory behind. The weight of the guilt, the rage… it was all right there, pulsing inside me like a wound that never healed.She stayed quiet. Just watched me, her eyes still locked on mine. No judgment. No questions. Just waiting for me to go on. And that only gutted me more.“I failed her, Diana.” My voice came out rough, thick with a hatred I couldn’t control. “I was the older brother. It was my job to protect her. And I failed. Miserably. I didn’t see what the hell was happen

ROCCOI rolled my eyes and turned my head to look at her. Her face was so serious it actually made me pause for a second."Diana, I'm not made of glass, for fuck's sake. I'm fine.""Fine, my ass!" she snapped, her eyes flashing. "Look at your back, Rocco! You think this is fine? If you don't take care of these wounds, they're gonna get worse. And then how exactly are you gonna protect me if you can't even protect yourself?"I sighed, the irritation starting to fade under her persistence. She wasn't gonna let up until I gave in. I knew that."Fine. I'll rest. Happy now?"She looked at me with this relieved expression, but she still didn't seem totally convinced."It's not just rest. You're gonna follow my instructions. No lifting anything heavy, no physical exertion, and no playing chef around here. Or do you wanna end up back in the hospital?"I huffed, but I knew I didn't have a choice."Alright. We'll do it your way. But only because you're being a pain in my ass."She let out a rel

DIANA“Yeah, right there,” I answered, nodding, unable to pull my eyes away from his. He was so close I could feel his heat, the raw energy radiating off him. With that same serious focus, he picked up the machine again and got back to work.The pain was different now. Sharper. But at the same time, weirdly good. Every time the needle bit into my skin, a wave of heat rolled through my body. There was something about something so sharp and penetrating working its way into such an intimate spot—a mix of hurt and want that left me breathless.“Hurts too much?” he asked, eyes still on my skin.I shook my head, my voice coming out almost like a gasp.“It hurts… but it feels good.”He smirked.“You like pain?” His voice carried a suggestive edge while he kept working the moon into my skin, the design slowly taking shape.“Maybe…” I murmured, my whole body strung tight, wanting more of that feeling.Every touch of the machine made my body answer, a shiver running down my spine, while he kept